HANSARD) Published Under the Authority of the Honourable Don Toth Speaker
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SECOND SESSION - TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan ____________ DEBATES and PROCEEDINGS ____________ (HANSARD) Published under the authority of The Honourable Don Toth Speaker N.S. VOL. 51 NO. 48A THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2009, 10 a.m. MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN Speaker — Hon. Don Toth Premier — Hon. Brad Wall Leader of the Opposition — Lorne Calvert Name of Member Political Affiliation Constituency Allchurch, Denis SP Rosthern-Shellbrook Atkinson, Pat NDP Saskatoon Nutana Belanger, Buckley NDP Athabasca Bjornerud, Hon. Bob SP Melville-Saltcoats Boyd, Hon. Bill SP Kindersley Bradshaw, Fred SP Carrot River Valley Brkich, Greg SP Arm River-Watrous Broten, Cam NDP Saskatoon Massey Place Calvert, Lorne NDP Saskatoon Riversdale Cheveldayoff, Hon. Ken SP Saskatoon Silver Springs Chisholm, Michael SP Cut Knife-Turtleford D’Autremont, Hon. Dan SP Cannington Draude, Hon. June SP Kelvington-Wadena Duncan, Dustin SP Weyburn-Big Muddy Eagles, Doreen SP Estevan Elhard, Hon. Wayne SP Cypress Hills Forbes, David NDP Saskatoon Centre Furber, Darcy NDP Prince Albert Northcote Gantefoer, Hon. Rod SP Melfort Harpauer, Hon. Donna SP Humboldt Harper, Ron NDP Regina Northeast Harrison, Jeremy SP Meadow Lake Hart, Glen SP Last Mountain-Touchwood Heppner, Hon. Nancy SP Martensville Hickie, Hon. Darryl SP Prince Albert Carlton Higgins, Deb NDP Moose Jaw Wakamow Hutchinson, Hon. Bill SP Regina South Huyghebaert, Yogi SP Wood River Iwanchuk, Andy NDP Saskatoon Fairview Junor, Judy NDP Saskatoon Eastview Kirsch, Delbert SP Batoche Krawetz, Hon. Ken SP Canora-Pelly LeClerc, Serge SP Saskatoon Northwest McCall, Warren NDP Regina Elphinstone-Centre McMillan, Tim SP Lloydminster McMorris, Hon. Don SP Indian Head-Milestone Michelson, Warren SP Moose Jaw North Morgan, Hon. Don SP Saskatoon Southeast Morin, Sandra NDP Regina Walsh Acres Nilson, John NDP Regina Lakeview Norris, Hon. Rob SP Saskatoon Greystone Ottenbreit, Greg SP Yorkton Quennell, Frank NDP Saskatoon Meewasin Reiter, Jim SP Rosetown-Elrose Ross, Laura SP Regina Qu’Appelle Valley Schriemer, Joceline SP Saskatoon Sutherland Stewart, Hon. Lyle SP Thunder Creek Taylor, Len NDP The Battlefords Tell, Hon. Christine SP Regina Wascana Plains Toth, Hon. Don SP Moosomin Trew, Kim NDP Regina Coronation Park Van Mulligen, Harry NDP Regina Douglas Park Vermette, Doyle NDP Cumberland Wall, Hon. Brad SP Swift Current Weekes, Randy SP Biggar Wilson, Nadine SP Saskatchewan Rivers Wotherspoon, Trent NDP Regina Rosemont Yates, Kevin NDP Regina Dewdney LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SASKATCHEWAN 2737 April 9, 2009 [The Assembly met at 10:00.] The petition is signed by residents from Maple Creek, Melville, and Webb. I so present. [Prayers] Some Hon. Members: — Hear, hear! ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Centre. The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Wood River. Mr. Forbes: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present a petition calling for wage equity for CBO Mr. Huyghebaert: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and [community-based organization] workers. And we know these through you to the Assembly, I‟d like to introduce 18 grade 8 to workers in the community-based organizations throughout 11 students in the west gallery from Mankota. And they‟re Saskatchewan have been traditionally underpaid, and because of accompanied by their teacher Rhonda Pilgrim and chaperones that there is an issue around high staff turnover, and the Ron Ficzel, Lana Nogue, Stan Scribner, Ross Schafer, and subsequent lack of caregiver continuity has a negative impact Dennis Dyck. on the quality of care clients give. I‟d like to read the prayer: Mr. Speaker, these students have been through a year-long Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. leadership training program. The teachers have been working in Assembly may be pleased to cause the development and collaboration with the University of Regina‟s Greystone Centre implementation of a multi-year funding plan to ensure that for Interprofessional Collaboration to explore leadership CBO workers achieve wage equity with employees who opportunities for our youth and address issues facing youth in perform work of equal value in government departments. our school and communities. And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. Mr. Speaker, I will be meeting with the group after question period, and I would ask all members to please join me in Mr. Speaker, these folks come from Zealandia, Regina, and welcoming them to their Legislative Assembly. Saskatoon. Thank you very much. Hon. Members: — Hear, hear! Some Hon. Members: — Hear, hear! The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Douglas The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Regina Walsh Park. Acres. Mr. Van Mulligen: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It‟s Ms. Morin: — Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on my pleasure to introduce to you and through you to the behalf of rural residents of Saskatchewan who question why the members of the Legislative Assembly a guest that is seated in Sask Party government is leaving them behind when it comes to your gallery. He moved to Saskatchewan in July 2007, and he providing safe and affordable water. Mr. Speaker, the prayer and his family now reside in Grenfell where he is establishing reads as follows: his own business. And I wonder if the members would join with me in welcoming Mr. Danny Thompson. Thank you very much. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. Legislative Assembly may be pleased to cause the Hon. Members: — Hear, hear! government to financially assist the town of Duck Lake residents for the good of their health and safety due to the PRESENTING PETITIONS exorbitant water rates being forced on them by a government agency, and that this government fulfills its The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon commitment to rural Saskatchewan. Fairview. As in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. Mr. Iwanchuk: — Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition in support of the indexing of minimum wage. Mr. Speaker, the These petitions, Mr. Speaker, are signed by the good residents indexing of minimum wage would ensure that minimum wage of Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and Duck Lake. I so present. earners would be able to maintain a standard of living as cost of living increases. And the prayers reads: Some Hon. Members: — Hear, hear! Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. The Speaker: — I recognize the member from The Battlefords. Legislative Assembly may be pleased to cause the government to commit to indexing Saskatchewan Mr. Taylor: — Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. minimum wage to ensure that the standard of living of Speaker. I‟m pleased today to rise to present a petition in minimum wage earners is maintained in the face of the support of a new Saskatchewan hospital, Mr. Speaker. The cost of living increases. petitioners recognize that the existing nearly 100-year-old structure is in much need of replacement. The petitioners ask And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. that: 2738 Saskatchewan Hansard April 9, 2009 . the Legislative Assembly call upon the Government of Legislative Building are at half mast. Mr. Speaker, I encourage Saskatchewan to immediately recommit funds and everyone to take a moment today to reflect on and honour their resources for the continued development and construction legacy etched into the lives and freedoms that each one of us of a new Saskatchewan Hospital at North Battleford and enjoys every day here in Saskatchewan. Thank you. provide the Prairie North Regional Health Authority with the authority necessary to complete the essential and Some Hon. Members: — Hear, hear! much-needed project. The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon Mr. Speaker, the petitioners are all from The Battlefords Eastview. constituency. I so present, Mr. Speaker. St. Ann’s Senior Citizens’ Village Some Hon. Members: — Hear, hear! Ms. Junor: — Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the The Speaker: — I recognize the member from Saskatoon dedication and commitment of the people at St. Ann‟s Senior Massey Place. Citizens‟ Village to providing quality housing and health care to all of their residents. St. Ann‟s, located in Saskatoon Eastview, Mr. Broten: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand today to operates as a special care home and independent living and a present a petition in support of fairness for graduate students in supported independent living apartment facility. Saskatchewan through the expansion of the graduate retention program. The prayer reads: St. Ann‟s is a Catholic seniors‟ home with a mandate of affirming the spiritual needs of residents, enabling them to live Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that your Hon. in dignity while enjoying the respecting companionship of their Legislative Assembly may be pleased to cause the peers. St. Ann‟s provides physiotherapy programs, social and government to immediately expand the graduate retention recreational programs, pharmacy and laboratory services, program to include master‟s and Ph.D. graduates. family physician services, and spiritual and religious services. And as in duty bound, your petitioners will ever pray. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge all the hard work done by the organizers of the St. Ann‟s Annual Spring Gala Mr. Speaker, the individuals who signed this petition are being held on Sunday April 19. The Spring Gala is a refreshing, students from the University of Regina, University of exciting day of entertainment, Mr. Speaker, and an important Saskatchewan, as well as a number of health care professionals fundraiser for St. Ann‟s. The funds raised go to support capital practising here in the province who have graduate degrees. I so projects at St. Ann‟s, such as room renovations. The Spring present. Gala is not only a chance for residents, family, friends, and community members to socialize with each other, but it also Some Hon.